Player's Stories

Tunica Is A Long Way From Vegas Baby!
By Al Spath

I suppose the aroma from the numerous barbeque grilling pits along the road from the Memphis Airport (some 45 minutes car ride in traffic), was my first indication I was in the deep south. My second clue was the massive amount of signage along the roadway. Billboards, the size of two-story buildings dotted the empty landscape, and they all seem to depict a theme: gamblers holding up cash and checks skyward, which they had recently won, at the various Tunica casinos. I counted only 13 winners (hmmm); it had me worried about percentages already. Fortunately, our security guard (driver), found his way to the registration drop-off point and I was able to step inside the GoldStrike Resort and Casino. I must admit, in looks, it rivaled many Vegas style hotels, however, there was a striking difference: NO LINES.

Check-in must be an art form in these newly built casinos along the Mississippi River, because I was in my room, with my assigned bellhop totting my bags, within 10 minutes after I entered the land of "rebel yells." I must take a bit of time to let you all know; it's no Motel 6 here (more on that later). The room was spacious and a welcomed site after traveling all day from California.

Okay, I'm here to play some poker, meet a slew of PokerSchoolOnline (PSO) members, and hopefully provide them an interesting speech about middle stakes limit hold em' during the convention. But for right now, let me at the tables. I sashayed (that's dixie jargon), across the vast casino floor (filled with blackjack, roulette and craps tables, not to mention hundreds of slot machines begging for a pull), to where an escalator (wow, they even have machinery that works down here, I'm in awe), that took me UP to the poker rooms. The place was bustling for a Friday evening (around 7pm) and I quickly decided to throw my name up on the waiting list for a game. Okay, so I was listed on the third column for each table going, and the wait was a minimum of 4 hours, what's a traveler got to do to play some cards. No, I did not stutter...4 hours. So, always looking for a silver lining, this gave me plenty of time to find the swarm of PSO members hovering about the cardroom floor, in the halls, lining up to purchase seats into satellites and for a main event tournament to be held the next day.

Even though I had never met the people I was shaking hands with, the smiles and enthusiasm they displayed to me made me feel welcome and excited to be part of such a great group of individuals (collectively renamed by me as the Pirates of PSO), as I expecting them to loot and pillage while guests of the casino. Then, like an aberration, appeared the one and only Mark Napolitano...fitted with camera gear and photographing the latest winner of an Omaha-High tournament that was to conclude that evening after the final table was established the prior night. Mark is the complimentary half of the dazzling-duo, known as Tina and Mark (Mr. and Mrs. Pokerpages), who have built PokerSchoolOnline.com into the finest poker resource on the net. Tina would be arriving the next day, so I was anxious to meet her as well. This was my second time meeting Mark (first time in Vegas just after he won the Media Poker Tournament Event, several years prior). The guy can play poker too!

I did get to play a bit of poker, the 1/2 nl and the 2/5 nl tables proved to be fertile ground to build a house bankroll and I quit way ahead when the cards began to all look alike and my eyes began to beg for sleep. I must say I felt as if the affect of "internet play" had carried over to these live tables. Same ATWD (any two will do), ATSWD (any two suited will do), and AAWD (any ace will do) were being played (badly, I might add). I couldn't contain myself from smiling and I hope that I did not provide a TELL every time I saw an under-bet and a calling station repeatedly signal a weak hand. I did get an opportunity to play a soft 5/10 and 10/20 table the next day, and again, the poker powers were extremely generous in giving me decent cards and "tired" opponents. I love the fact no one else ever sleeps at these giant sized home games.

On Saturday we had a great time playing a 4/8 limit game at the Horseshoe (next door), with New Jane, Zipman, Joybell, Jmussey, and other PSO members running and gunning at these limits. Of particular note was New "Calamity" Jane, cracking my rockets with K9 when she flopped two pair and filled on the river. Jane, if I forgot to tell you then.....I didn't mean what I mumbled, honestly (wink)! Then, playing over Joybell's chips, Zipman had sat in the game and made the best move of the trip so far, when his 47 (but they were suited), snapped me off again. Note: I had never met the infamous Zipman and I thoroughly enjoyed his demeanor and the way he played/socialized at the table, a great addition to PSO, and glad to call him a new friend.

On day three I was treated to my first horrible beat down. No, not a bad beat, although one did occur at a 4/8 omaha/high table, about 30 minutes after Hitman left his seat for the night (unlucky is being kind), the table (plus all omaha tables in the room), shared the jackpot prize amount. Anyhow, back to my melt down... I was playing 1/2 NL and was the recipient of red KK's in the big blind. There were two middle limpers and the small blind for a buck. I raised it another $25. Both middle players folded their tent and with $33 in the pot, the small blind called for $25 more. The flop came K72, all clubs, and although I was glad to see a king, the clubs were not appreciated. Following a quick check from the small blind player, I went all in for my remaining stack ($210), which covered her and then some, as I did not want her to call with a single club in her hand. I didn't get the money in the pot when she bellowed, "I call." She flipped her J4 of clubs over, and the turn and river never paired the board, meaning I lost about $120 additional to her. As she was stacking "my" chips, I said: "play on the internet do you?" She replied, "Oh no, I don't even own a computer, I just like t play suited anything, it's my special way of saying welcome to Mississippi."

During the convention on Monday night, players were greeted with smiles and welcome nametags as they gathered up all their gifts (shirts, calendars, pins, and a very special PSO coin) and settled in to an evening of "poker socialization." Following some wonderful introductions and remarks by Mark, Tina and Nolan Dalla, I was privileged to present a talk on "Middle Stakes Holdem,' Starting Hands," followed by a wonderful interactive no-limit discussion and hands-on instruction with professional poker player, Barry Tanenbaum. Barry was Barry, a regular showman on stage or at the tables and had the crowd laughing and agreeing with him as he wove his lesson into the exercise at each table. Of course, I had met spectacular and inspiring Tina by this time, even though she and Sharla did not recognize me at first without the mustache, and we began to work as a team in providing all members in attendance, one hell-of-a night. Did I mention there was enough food to feed the entire casino, let alone just the attendees, and drinks were on Tina and Mark... how do you beat that act! (You can't)

At the PSO tournament held the morning following the convention, everyone seemed to be a bit sleepy eyed for the 8 am start time, but Bhat (sporting his black cowboy hat) managed to thwart all comers and went on to win the event in a classic heads up battle at the end. On Wednesday, Kaelaine captured the PSO Grand Championship, after successfully dispatching a stiff field of PSO qualifiers. We wish Kaelaine all the luck in the world as she now has a $25,000 seat at the Bellagio for an upcoming World Poker Tour event. There were other funny and noteworthy stories coming out of Tunica, but I'd like to end this article telling you that Johnny_Bravo played a super satellite with Men Nguyen and Men who offered him a split of the money (with a huge chip lead) if Johnny would allow Men to have the tournament chip. In another event, MaggieMayb found her self up against Men the Master, Minh Nguyen, and Devilfish Ulliott, all during a few table changes. Having the opportunity to compete with the legends of the game and meet the diverse membership of PSO was what it was all about, and although going to Tunica wasn't like going to Vegas baby, but it sure was fun!

PS...Going home extra special treatment

Tried to leave Memphis (on-time via American Airlines), spent 9 hours on the ground (for one hour scheduled flight to Dallas), and in the air, flying around and waiting for thunderstorms to pass. Had to make an emergency landing at College Station (ran out of fuel flying around), and then finally on to Dallas. You never want to spend 9 hours in a commuter plane, 80 people, one bathroom, no food, and no drink after the first hour, and cramped seats. Did I mention no flights in Dallas when we arrived and two hours later, with no rooms in Dallas area, no bags in hand, they send us to a hotel with 26 people waiting (I'm 25, on the bubble for a room, lol), at 1 am, for just an opportunity to have Motel 6 (with no room amenities I might add), turn out the lights. Good night now, Mr. Tom Bodett, wherever you are!

Comments to: AlSpath@pokerschoolonline.com